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by Debra Dunkle
This was my 5th year as a Crew Leader, but it still is a daunting job preparing for the KTA Trail Crew. I swiftly cleared files off of my office desk and forced my head into the trail mindset. Several factors such as weather, assigning jobs, organizing a crew of volunteers with various skill levels, and logistics of the trail all needed to be considered. This year's nail-biters included closing agreements with landowners, the school district and the Borough Council.
At the end of Trail Crew week, the local Chamber conducted a government session by having a DCNR notable, along with a panel of local trail-heads, speak about the economic value of Trail Towns. Everett is the largest town on the Mid State Trail (MST), and the county leaders are recognizing the area's historic interest and attractive trails by the river- we need to get our PR better-established for visitors! During the luncheon session, the KTA trailer was in full view -- thank you KTA for good, sharp tools!
Ray McCann and I (accompanied by Jake, my JRT dog) scouted out months ahead to visit landowners. Probably the hardest part in this region is planning which vehicles can get us up the mountain, figuring out which tools will be needed, and dividing the crews out. We also had to obtain access through the keyed gates of state game lands and through private owners.
Two relocations were completed: one in the BSF and the first section around the park and school district. Most of the trail cleaning takes two days in these remote areas with the crew running the brush cutters, loppers, DR mower and chainsaws. Each relo had its initial painting that was completed twice. Wish Tom Thwaites could figure out how to move all these PA rocks -- but the vistas are incredible!
Lots of hard work was completed by fifteen people: Dave Walp, Lorraine Healey, Diane Buscarini, Joe Clark, Joe Healey, Dan Dougherty, Dave Wittmer, Carl Jaymes, Dale Miller, Harry Felton, Ray McCann, Barb Wiemann, Pete Fleszar, and Tom Johnson from GET showed up for one day. We did work in the two days of steamy rain showers, but it just slowed us up a little...completing a total of 453 work hours with 96 hours in the BSF area. This crew enjoyed getting to know (and teasing) the greenhorn Dan. We ate good food from Everett Church (thanks to the Brethren ladies!), enjoyed snacks by Carol and Mary, took hot showers, visited with landowners Charles and Sara Jane Williams, and saw a bear on the access to MST! Just the simple things in life!
Figuring out 2-3 new relocations for next year's Trail Crew is on the current agenda. Any interested members wanting to try the Crew out for a day or even interested in coming out on a monthly basis are welcome. Please call Debra 814.652.2227 and leave a message.
The following days back in the office I ended up thinking: "Oh, to be out on the trail again instead of figuring out the office phone modem that just went dead, and dealing with the office auditor." Trail work seems really easy now! |